Copy protection for applications

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an application file to be carried on an optical disc and to a method of copy protecting an application, where the application is provided by an application file to be carried on an optical disc. The invention also extends to a copy protected optical disc carrying an application and to a storage device for use in a process of mastering optical discs.

The present invention relates to an application file to be carried on anoptical disc and to a method of copy protecting an application, wherethe application is provided by an application file to be carried on anoptical disc. The invention also extends to a copy protected opticaldisc carrying an application and to a storage device for use in aprocess of mastering optical discs.

Optical discs, such as the various formats of compact discs (CDs) and ofdigital versatile discs (DVDs) are increasingly used for carryinginformation for many different applications. The information encodedonto the optical discs is generally very valuable, and accordingly, theyare increasingly copied by counterfeiters. Furthermore, recordable CDs,and CD writers for writing the information content from one disc to suchrecordable discs, are now readily available to the domestic consumer.Recordable DVDs and DVD writers are expected to become as readilyavailable in the short term. This means that new and effective methodsfor copy protecting optical discs are required.

Many techniques now exist for copy protecting the information on opticaldiscs but these usually require the application of copy protection datato the optical disc during the mastering process. However, there aresituations where access to the mastering process is not appropriate oris not available. For example, the licensed providers of games for gamesconsoles such as XBox® and PS2® have an interest in copy protecting thegames they have designed and written which may not be shared by thegames console manufacturers, for example, Microsoft and Sony. Theretherefore exists a need to enable protection of the information to beapplied to the optical disc, for the protection of the licensed gameprovider, for example, which does not require the involvement of thegames console manufacturer.

The present invention seeks to address this need.

Throughout the specification and claims, the term “DSV data patterns”means data patterns which are likely to be difficult to encode withoutthe encoded data causing DSV problems.

Thus, when “DSV data patterns” are encoded and written to an opticaldisc, for example, by a writer, a reader or player of encoded dataincorporating the DSV data patterns will experience DSV problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is providedan application file to be carried on an optical disc, wherein theapplication file incorporates information and control data for anapplication, and wherein, to provide copy protection for theapplication, DSV data patterns as hereinbefore defined are incorporatedin the application file, the DSV data patterns being located in theapplication file in a manner to ensure that they will be accessed by aplayer or a reader of an optical disc carrying the application file.

It will be understood that reference to access by a player or reader toan application file includes access to the application file by anoperating system is which is arranged to load and run the applicationfile.

The present invention utilises the inherent limitations of currentlyavailable CD and DVD writers. Thus, the applicants have found that it ispossible to provide DSV data patterns which, because of their sizeand/or nature, cannot be accurately written onto a disc by a writer forrecordable discs such that the disc remains reliably readable. However,the much more sophisticated encoders used in mastering houses, forexample, the encoder which controls a laser beam recorder, can becontrolled to accurately write the DSV data patterns to the glassmaster.

The encoder associated with a laser beam recorder has a relatively largeamount of memory and processing power at its disposal. Specifically, theencoder uses sophisticated algorithms to analyse the information,including the DSV data patterns, which is to be encoded and written tothe disc. The purpose of these algorithms is to ensure that thisinformation is encoded onto the glass master in a manner which ensuresthat the information on the discs produced using this glass master canbe read correctly by all CD and DVD readers. For a CD, the encoderchooses the merge bits which are interspersed in the encoded data aspart of the encoding process and the chosen merge bit pattern ensuresthe readability of the replica discs made from the glass master.Similarly, for a DVD, the encoder chooses the sequence of channel bitsto ensure readability. These sophisticated encoders can compromise thereadability of one area of disc slightly, to ensure the readability ofanother area of disc, the overall effect being to ensure that the wholedisc has a uniformly high readability.

By contrast, commercially available CD and DVD writers are limited inthe processing power and memory which can be brought to bear on theproblem of encoding the data. Specifically, the encoder built into awriting device contains simpler encoding algorithms because complicatedalgorithms require more processing power, more memory and they are moreexpensive to design, write and debug which reduces the profit margin onthe writer. These simpler encoding algorithms may not make the idealchoices for merge bits or the sequence of channel bits even when thebetter choices are readily available. If one area of disc is easy toencode so as to ensure high readability and the following region isdifficult to encode and would have a low readability, the simpleencoders in writers do not have the foresight to trade-off thereadability of one area with another and the result is that the easilyencoded region is encoded well and the region which is difficult toencode is encoded badly and when the disc is read, errors are found inthis latter region.

It would, of course, be possible to provide special or customisedencoders to apply DSV data patterns to the optical disc. However, theapplicants have found that they can add the DSV data patterns withoutthe need for any special equipment. However, the invention comprehendsthe use of existing, customised and/or special encoders.

The use of the inherent limitations of currently available disc writers,and the provision of DSV problems by way of an applied authenticatingsignature is described in our earlier application WO 02/11136.

However, the applicants have now discovered that DSV data patterns neednot be confined for use as an authenticating signature, and that theycan provide DSV data patterns in an application file to be carried on anoptical disc, such that these DSV data patterns together with theinherent limitations of optical disc writers provide copy protection forthe application carried on the optical disc.

In an embodiment, the DSV data patterns are located in the informationincorporated in the application file.

Additionally and/or alternatively, the DSV data patterns areincorporated in locations of the application file which are normallyaccessed upon use of the application file.

For example, the DSV data patterns may be located in control dataincorporated in the application file and/or in control data incorporatedin a header of the application file.

The control data in the application file and/or the control data in aheader of the application file may include at least one pointer oroffset pointing to the location of DSV data patterns in the applicationfile.

Preferably, the DSV data patterns are chosen to cause DSV problems foroptical disc writers.

For example, the DSV data patterns may be chosen to ensure that the DSVhas a significant absolute value.

In an embodiment, the DSV data patterns are repeated patterns of values.

The size of the DSV data patterns may be a predetermined amount.

It is generally thought that the effectiveness of the DSV data patternsis maximised where the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSVwhich has a rapid rate of change.

In addition, it is preferred that the DSV data patterns are arranged toproduce a DSV which has a substantial low frequency component.

In an embodiment, areas of data containing only zeros are incorporatedin the application file before, and/or after, and/or before and afterareas containing the DSV data patterns.

As is well known, the information in the application file may compriseone or more of: audio data, numerical data, text data, video data,graphics data, program data, animation data and/or any other data.Similarly, the control data in the application file comprisesdescriptors of the information and/or data enabling access to theinformation. For example, the access enabling control data comprisesnavigation and/or timing data.

It will be appreciated that the application file may be of anyappropriate format. As is well known, the format will be chosen to becompatible with the program or operating system by which the applicationis to be run.

The invention also extends to a copy protected optical disc carrying anapplication, wherein the application is defined by an application fileas defined above, and wherein the application file has been applied tothe optical disc.

In an embodiment, the application file has been applied to the opticaldisc by a mastering process utilising an encoder with ‘look-ahead’capabilities.

Alternatively, the application file has been applied to the optical discby a mastering process utilising an encoder controlling a laser beamrecorder.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided amethod of copy protecting an application, where the application isprovided by an application file to be carried on an optical disc andincorporating information and control data, the method comprisingincorporating into the application file, before its application onto anoptical disc, DSV data patterns as hereinbefore defined.

Preferably, the method further comprises locating the DSV data patternsin the application file in a manner to ensure that they will be accessedby a player or reader of an optical disc carrying the application file.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises locating the DSV datapatterns in the information incorporated in the application file.

In a preferred embodiment, the DSV data patterns are incorporated inlocations of the application file which are normally accessed upon useof the application file. For example, where the application file hascontrol data and/or a header in which control data is incorporated, themethod further comprises locating the DSV data patterns in the controldata.

Where the application file has control data and/or a header in whichcontrol data is incorporated, the method may alternatively oradditionally comprise including at least one pointer or offset in thecontrol data which points to the location of the DSV data patterns inthe application file.

Preferably, said DSV data patterns have been chosen to cause DSVproblems for optical disc writers.

In an embodiment, the DSV data patterns are chosen to ensure that theDSV has a significant absolute value.

The DSV data patterns may be repeated patterns of values.

The size of the DSV data patterns may be a predetermined amount.

It is preferred that the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSVwhich has a rapid rate of change. It is currently thought that this isthe most effective way to ensure reading problems for copy discs.

Preferably, the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSV whichhas a substantial low frequency component.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises incorporating into theapplication file areas containing only zeros before, and/or after,and/or before and after areas containing the DSV data patterns.

The invention also extends to a copy protected optical disc carrying anapplication, wherein the application is defined by an application filewhich has been copy protected as defined above, and wherein theapplication file has been applied to the optical disc.

In an embodiment, the application file has been applied to the opticaldisc by a mastering process utilising an encoder with “look ahead”capabilities.

Alternatively, the application file has been applied to the optical discby a mastering process utilising an encoder controlling a laser beamrecorder.

The present invention also extends to a storage device for use in aprocess of mastering optical discs, wherein the storage device carriesan application file to be carried on the optical discs, the applicationfile incorporating information and control data for an application, andwherein DSV data patterns as hereinbefore defined are incorporated inthe application file.

In an embodiment, the DSV data patterns are located in the applicationfile in a manner to ensure that they will be accessed by a player or areader of an optical disc carrying the application file.

A storage device as defined may be used, for example, by a licensedgames supplier, to supply a games application to a games consolemanufacturer.

Preferably, the DSV data patterns are chosen to cause DSV problems foroptical disc writers.

In an embodiment, the DSV data patterns are chosen to ensure that theDSV has a significant absolute value.

The DSV data patterns may be repeated patterns of values.

The size of the DSV data patterns may be a predetermined amount.

It is presently preferred that the DSV data patterns are arranged toproduce a DSV which has a substantial low frequency component.

The storage device may be, for example, a master tape or otherrecordable medium on which the application file incorporating the DSVdata patterns is recorded. The storage device may also be provided byelectronic memory, for example, in a computer. In this embodiment, theapplication file may be provided as a set of image files representingthe data to be mastered.

Alternatively, the storage device may be an optical disc onto which theapplication file is recorded. This recording may be by way of encodingin a manner to ensure that the DSV data patterns do not cause DSVproblems. It is alternatively possible to record the application fileonto a storage device such as an optical disc with the DSV data patternsin an encrypted form.

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates graphically the production of optical discs for usein games consoles,

FIG. 2 shows the surface of a compact disc, very much enlarged, showingthe pits thereon,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a pit illustrating the data associatedtherewith,

FIG. 4 shows the DSV associated with pits and lands of a compact disc,

FIG. 5 shows schematically an application file having DSV data patternsincorporated therein, and

FIG. 6 illustrates graphically the production of optical discs for usein games consoles in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the production of optical discs, generally DVDs, foruse in games consoles such as the XBox® produced by Microsoft or thePS2® produced by Sony. In this respect, licensed games providers willdesign a game and write the software for it. They then use a toolkit,indicated at 2, provided by the games console manufacturer, to enablethem to present the software 14 in appropriate application files whichcan be run by the proprietary games consoles. With the use of thetoolkit 2, the application file 4 can be provided as a set of imagefiles 6 representing the data to be mastered. The image files 6 may bein disc description protocol file format and may be recorded on anappropriate storage device, such as a mastering tape or on otherrecordable media. The image files 6 are then provided to the gamesconsole manufacturer who, after making appropriate tests, will encodethe application file 4 onto a glass master 10 by way of an encoder 8.

The suppliers of the content of the application file, in this case thelicensed games providers, are often concerned to ensure that the contentthey have produced is copy protected. Unfortunately, companies such asMicrosoft and Sony have been reluctant to employ known techniques forcopy protection in the encoding undertaken by the encoder 8. The presentinvention solves this problem as it does not require that action betaken at the time of encoding by the encoder 8. Furthermore, thetechniques do not require access to or assistance from the softwarewriters. As is made clear below, DSV data patterns indicated at 12 canbe added to the application file 4 before it is presented to the gamesconsole manufacturer. These DSV data patterns will generally cause noproblem for an encoder such as 8 of the games console manufacturer, butwill provide copy protection for the resultant DVDs produced from theglass master 10.

The copy protection technique relies upon the use of DSV data patternsas described, for example, in WO 02/11136. A brief descriptionexplaining DSV and how it is utilised now follows. This descriptionbegins specifically by reference to the encoding of a CD-ROM. However,it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to usewith a CD-ROM and finds application to all data carrying optical discs.Specifically, the invention is applicable to all formats of CDs and toall formats of DVDs.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of part of a CD showing the pits 16thereon. As is well known, these pits extend along a spiral track on thesurface of the disc and are separated by lands.

FIG. 3 shows a section through a pit 16 and land 18 illustrating howdata is encoded on a CD. The pits and lands do not represent binary 0sand 1s, but instead represent transitions from one state to another. Thedata signal is stored in NRZI form (Non-Return to Zero inverted), wherethe signal is inverted every time a 1 is encountered. FIG. 3 shows thebinary value 00100010.

The data stream always consists of pits and lands of at least 3 bits andat most 11 bits long. This is sometimes referred to as a 3T-11T where Tis a 1 bit period. A 3T pit has the highest signal frequency (720 khz)and an 11T pit has the lowest signal frequency (196 khz).

A data signal is derived from the lengths of the pits and lands. Theproduced signal forms a square wave known as an EFM signal. The digitalsum value (DSV) is the running difference between the number of T valueswhere the EFM represents a pit and the number of T values where the EFMrepresents a land. As each data bit is read, the DSV is incremented ordecremented depending upon whether the data bit corresponds to a pit ora land.

FIG. 4 shows the DSV associated with pits and lands on a disc. As isindicated in FIG. 4, the DSV is determined by assigning the value +1 toeach land T, and −1 to each pit T. Ideally, the DSV should stray aslittle as possible from the zero level. If the DSV has a rapid rate ofchange over a significant period of time or if the DSV has substantiallow frequency components then the transitions in the EFM signal may beshifted from their ideal values and/or the ability of tracking and focuscircuits in CD drives to maintain optimal head positioning may becompromised. This typically causes read failures from the CD.

Original data, in 8 bit bytes, is passed through a process called EFMencoding to produce the 14 bit symbols, often referred to as channelbits. The set of 14 bit symbols is especially designed:

-   -   to level out the number of pits and lands, to help maintain        balanced DSV; and    -   to ensure that there are no symbols which break the EFM coding        scheme of 3T-11T.

Another way of regarding the 3T-11T coding scheme is that the number ofsuccessive zeros must be greater than or equal to two and less than orequal to ten. It is immediately apparent that this requirement may becompromised where two 14 bit symbols follow one after the other.Accordingly, a set of 3 merge bits are added between each 14 bit symboland the one following to ensure that there are no violations of the3T-11T coding scheme and to ensure that a suitable DSV is maintained.

The merge bits contain no useful data and the algorithm used to generatetheir values can differ from drive to drive. Once read, the merge bitsare discarded and the data contained in the 14 bit symbol is passed ontothe next process.

The above describes the basic encoding scheme for a CD and will be knownto those skilled in the art. Accordingly, further explanation thereof isnot required.

As set out above, embodiments of this invention utilise the inherentlimitations of currently available CD writers, and in particular thedifferences in capability between the encoder associated with a laserbeam recorder and that in a CD writer.

The encoding of a CD is subject to two rigorous conditions and one morevague requirement. The first strict rule is that the encoded data mustdecode without errors into the data which the software writer wanted onthe disc. The second strict rule is that the encoding must obey therun-length limiting rules so that no pits or lands are longer than 11Tor shorter than 3T. The vague requirement is that the DSVcharacteristics of the disc should be as good as possible.

As set out above, DSV is a property of the encoded data. It is a runningdifference between the number of pit T states and the number of land Tstates. It is desirable that the DSV should not have high absolutevalues, should not change rapidly, and should not have low frequencycomponents. This latter requirement means that the DSV should notoscillate in a regular fashion.

In order to maintain good DSV characteristics, the encoder often has achoice in the merge bits to insert between the symbols which carry thedata. When encoding certain special patterns of data, the encoder has avery much reduced ability to choose merge bits because the run-lengthlimiting rules place limitations on the merge bits which can precede orfollow certain symbols. The encoder effectively loses much of itscontrol of the DSV while this data is being encoded. It is critical thatit chooses correctly in the few locations where it has a choice.

A sophisticated encoder, such as those which control laser beamrecorders, may have the foresight, or can be designed, to choose apattern of merge bits which is not optimal for the immediate localitywhere this area is followed by one in which the run length limitingrules dictate the merge bits. The result will be that the overall DSVfor the two areas will have better properties. The ability to detectupcoming areas where the merge bit choices are limited is called“look-ahead”. Encoders with a larger look-ahead will be able to makemore preparations for encoding the troublesome data and hence theoverall encoding will be better. CD writers typically have very littleability to look ahead and hence when they lose control of the DSV, it ismore likely to result in an unreadable disc.

The applicants have identified a number of symbol values which arecapable of causing DSV problems because of their EFM pattern at the pitsand lands level. When the patterns for these values are processedthrough the EFM decoder of a CD drive, the DSV accumulates or decrementsand this can result in read failures. Of course, and as indicated above,the encoding process for a CD is designed to prevent values capable ofcausing DSV problems occurring in the EFM pattern as well as providingrobust error correction.

As will be well known, DVDs are subject to encoding known as EFMPlus. Inthis scheme the 8 bit data words are encoded into 16 bit channel bitsand state machines are used to choose the 16 bit symbols. As this choicecan be made so that the coding scheme is not compromised, a flexibilitygiven by the increased number of bits in each symbol, merge bits are notrequired.

On decoding, the information that was present in the 8 bit data words isrecreated but the encoding scheme is lost.

As set out above, this invention proposes that DSV data patterns, thatis, data patterns which are difficult to encode without causing DSVproblems, are to be incorporated into the application file 4. It isexpected that the sophisticated encoder 8 at the games consolemanufacturer, for example, such as Sony or Microsoft will be able, forexample by using look-ahead techniques, to encode and apply theapplication to the glass master 10 in a manner such that the encodeddata will not cause DSV problems. Therefore, the DVDs made from theglass master and supplied to customers will be usable readily andwithout problems. However, if an attempt is made to read the data on theoriginal disc, for example for copying purposes, the DSV data patternswill cause a CD or DVD writer to encode the data on the copy disc in amanner to render the resultant copy disc effectively unplayable.

FIG. 5 shows schematically an application file 20. In this respect, itwill be appreciated that all applications have a format determined bythe program or operating system concerned and that this format willinclude control data indicated at 22 and information indicated at 24.FIG. 5 shows an application file in portable executable file format(“PE”) for use by the DOS/Windows operating system. The application file20 has a DOS header 26 and a PE header 27. These headers 26, 27 includedescriptors indicating the contents of the file and the location of theinformation. It is the header 26 which will generally be accessed firstwhen the application is to be accessed.

In this respect, it will be appreciated that the file format shown inFIG. 5 is by way of example and that this invention is applicable to anytype of file format for use with any operating system. Most applicationfiles will have some sort of lead-in or header including descriptorsindicating the contents of the file and the location of the information.

In the specific example shown in FIG. 5 DSV patterns 28 have beenincorporated in available space in the DOS header 26. However, if suchspace were not available, large gaps could be made in the header 26without any effect and DSV patterns as 28 then put into those gaps.

As set out above, the DSV data patterns, as 28, are chosen so thatsophisticated encoders as used, by example, by the games consolemanufacturers, will be able to encode them in a manner which does notgive the resultant original discs DSV problems. However, the writersavailable to consumers will not have the capability to handle the DSVdata patterns capably and a resultant copy disc made by such a writerwill be difficult, if not impossible, to play. Thus, if a copy disc isused in a games console to play the application on it, the operatingsystem or the player will encounter DSV problems as it tries to load theheader 26 preparatory to running the application. It is expected, forexample, that in this circumstance, the game simply will not load.

It is, of course, possible to place the DSV data patterns in alternativeor additional areas of the application file as indicated at 32. In thisrespect, the location might be changed to confuse hackers and pirates,or to better integrate the DSV data patterns with the data of theapplication file so that it cannot easily be stripped out. If, forexample, the DSV data patterns are simply incorporated within theinformation data then it is probable that the game will load, but thenit is likely that the game will not be able to be completed becauseproblems will occur when the application requires that the informationin which the DSV data patterns are incorporated is utilised.

Additionally and/or alternatively, the DSV data patterns may be providedamongst the information but with pointers as 34 thereto in the header 27and/or in other control or navigation data.

DSV data patterns 36 are also shown located immediately after the PEheader 27. In this respect, the information about the size of theheader, set out in control data 23, has been changed to include the datapatterns 36. This ensures that the DSV data patterns 36 are read.

FIG. 5 also illustrates the provision of offsets 38 to cause access tospecific locations of the application file 20. The offsets 38 and/or anypointers to specific locations may be changed either to point directlyto DSV data patterns or to reliably point to locations which have DSVdata patterns but whose location has been moved to accommodate the DSVdata patterns.

When locating the DSV data patterns within the application file 20 it isnecessary only to ensure that the operating system of the game consolewill wish to use that data at some time. This means, of course, that thegame is likely to stop running when the DSV data patterns come to beread.

It would be possible to incorporate within the application file pre andpost padding areas, for example, containing zeros, around the DSV datapatterns. These may be helpful to the encoder used in the masteringprocess in providing time which the encoder can use to make an optimumchoice of merge bits or of the 16 bit channel bits.

Additionally and/or alternatively, other data having a stabilisingeffect, that is data which clearly does not cause DSV problems may beprovided around the DSV data patterns.

An example of DSV data patterns which might be used with the presentinvention is set out in WO 02/11136.

FIG. 6 illustrates the production of optical discs, for example, DVDsfor use in games consoles using an application file of the presentinvention. As previously, the software 14 provided by a games providerwill be formed into an application file 4 using the toolkit 2. Theapplication file 4 is then converted into an application file 20 havingincorporated DSV data patterns using a toolkit 40 provided by theapplicants. The formation of the application file 20 may be undertaken,for example, by a publisher.

The application file 20 then has to be made available to the masteringhouse for encoding by the master encoder 8 onto a glass master 10. Thismay be done, as described above, by providing the application file 20 asa set of image files 6 and recording the data onto tape or otherrecordable media or storing the information in electronic memory.

Alternatively, and as indicated in FIG. 6, the publisher may make one ormore recordable discs 42 by way of a special encoder 48. This specialencoder 48 is enabled to encode the application file in a manner whichwill not cause DSV problems. The resultant recordable discs 42 can thenbe decoded and encoded at the mastering house to form the glass master.

It would also be possible to enable the publisher to write theapplication file 20 to a gold disc 42 with the DSV data patterns in anencrypted form so that they can be written by a standard writer, forexample, without any ‘look ahead’ facilities. In this embodiment, theencoder 8 at the mastering house has to be enabled to decrypt the DSVpatterns such that they are incorporated into the application file 20before it is encoded and written to the glass master.

It has been set out above that this invention relies upon the ability ofthe encoder used in the mastering process to encode the application filetogether with the incorporated DSV data patterns in a manner which willnot cause DSV problems for the resultant optical discs. Of course, andif required, the mastering house can be provided with specially designedencoders which have been arranged to cope with the DSV data patternswhich are provided.

The invention has been described above with reference to the provisionof DVDs carrying games for use in proprietary games consoles. It will,of course, be appreciated that the invention is not limited to thenature of the information content of the application on the opticaldisc. For example, in our copending application (Ref. P9483 GB), filedon the same day as this case, we describe and claim the incorporation ofDSV data patterns into files, for example, MPEG files, encoding videoand audio. The DSV data patterns are incorporated into the MPEG andother files to copy protect the data therein for transmission. However,such files may comprise application files as described herein and beencoded onto DVDs to copy protect the discs. This is of particularrelevance to the DVD rental industry who are thereby provided with copyprotected DVDs. As described above, a special encoder may be required inorder to encode the MPEG and other files, which incorporate the DSV datapatterns, onto the DVD.

Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the use of games consolesas the disc player or reader. Clearly the invention has applicability tothe copy protection of all types of applications to be encoded onto anoptical disc for use in any appropriate type of reader or player.

It will be appreciated that variations in and modifications to theembodiments as described and illustrated may be made within the scope ofthis application.

1-46. (canceled)
 47. An application file to be carried on an opticaldisc, comprising: information and control data for an applicationincorporated in the application file; and wherein, to provide copyprotection for the application, DSV data patterns are incorporated inthe application file, the DSV data patterns being located in theapplication file in a manner to ensure that they will be accessed by aplayer or a reader of an optical disc carrying the application file. 48.An application file according to claim 47, wherein the DSV data patternsare located in the information incorporated in the application file. 49.An application file according to claim 48, wherein the DSV data patternsare incorporated in locations of the application file which are normallyaccessed upon use of the application file.
 50. An application fileaccording to claim 47, wherein the DSV data patterns are located incontrol data incorporated in the application file or in control dataincorporated in a header of the application file.
 51. An applicationfile according to claim 50 wherein the DSV data patterns areincorporated in locations of the application file which are normallyaccessed upon use of the application file.
 52. An application fileaccording to claim 47, wherein control data in the application file orcontrol data in a header of the application file includes at least onepointer or offset pointing to the location of DSV data patterns in theapplication file.
 53. An application file according to claim 47, whereinthe DSV data patterns are chosen to cause DSV problems for optical discwriters.
 54. An application file according to claim 47, wherein the DSVdata patterns are chosen to ensure that the DSV has a significantabsolute value.
 55. An application file according to claim 47, whereinthe DSV data patterns are repeated patterns of values.
 56. Anapplication file according to claim 47, wherein the size of the DSV datapatterns is a predetermined amount.
 57. An application file according toclaim 47, wherein the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSVwhich has a rapid rate of change.
 58. An application file according toclaim 47, wherein the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSVwhich has a substantial low frequency component.
 59. An application fileaccording to claim 47, wherein areas of data containing only zeros areincorporated in the application file in one or more areas located beforeand after areas containing the DSV data patterns.
 60. An applicationfile according to claim 47, wherein the information in the applicationfile comprises one or more of: audio data, numerical data, text data,video data, graphics data, program data, animation data and any otherdata.
 61. An application file according to claim 47, wherein the controldata in the application file comprises one or more of: descriptors ofthe information and data enabling access to the information.
 62. Anapplication file according to claim 61, wherein the access enablingcontrol data comprises navigation and/or timing data.
 63. An applicationfile to be carried on an optical disc, comprising: information andcontrol data for an application incorporated in the application file;and wherein, to provide copy protection for the application, DSV datapatterns are incorporated in the application file, DSV data patternsbeing located in the information incorporated in the application file,and DSV data patterns also being located in the control data in theapplication file, wherein the control data is incorporated in theapplication file or is incorporated in a header to the application file.64. A method of copy protecting an application, where the application isprovided by an application file to be carried on an optical disc andincorporates information and control data, the method comprising:incorporating into the application file, before its application onto anoptical disc, DSV data patterns.
 65. A method of copy protecting anapplication according to claim 64, further comprising locating the DSVdata patterns in the application file in a manner to ensure that theywill be accessed by a player or reader of an optical disc carrying theapplication file.
 66. A method of copy protecting an applicationaccording to claim 65, further comprising locating the DSV data patternsin the information incorporated in the application file.
 67. A method ofcopy protecting an application according to claim 65, wherein theapplication file has control data which is incorporated in theapplication file or in a header to the application file, and furthercomprising locating the DSV data patterns in the control data.
 68. Amethod of copy protecting an application according to claim 66, whereinthe DSV data patterns are incorporated in locations of the applicationfile which are normally accessed upon use of the application file.
 69. Amethod of copy protecting an application according to claim 65, whereinthe application file has control data incorporated in the applicationfile or in a header to the application file, and further comprisingincluding at least one pointer or offset in the control data whichpoints to the location of the DSV data patterns in the application file.70. A method of copy protecting an application according to claim 65,wherein said DSV data patterns have been chosen to cause DSV problemsfor optical disc writers.
 71. A method of copy protecting an applicationaccording to claim 65, wherein the DSV data patterns are chosen toensure that the DSV has a significant absolute value.
 72. A method ofcopy protecting an application according to claim 65, wherein the DSVdata patterns are repeated patterns of values.
 73. A method of copyprotecting an application according to claim 65, wherein the size of theDSV data patterns is a predetermined amount.
 74. A method of copyprotecting an application according to claim 65, wherein the DSV datapatterns are arranged to produce a DSV which has a rapid rate of change.75. A method of copy protecting an application according to claim 65,wherein the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSV which has asubstantial low frequency component.
 76. A method of copy protecting anapplication according to claim 65, further comprising incorporating intothe application file areas containing only zeros, the areas containingonly zeros being incorporated in one or more areas located before andafter areas containing the DSV data patterns.
 77. A method of copyprotecting an application, where the application is provided by anapplication file to be carried on an optical disc and incorporatesinformation and control data, the method comprising: incorporating intothe application file, before its application onto an optical disc, DSVdata patterns; wherein DSV data patterns are located in the informationincorporated in the application file; and wherein DSV data patterns arealso located in control data of the application file, the control databeing incorporated in the application file or in a header to theapplication file.
 78. A copy protected optical disc carrying anapplication, wherein the application is defined by an application fileincorporating information and control data, wherein the application filehas been applied to the optical disc, and wherein, to provide copyprotection for the application, DSV data patterns have been incorporatedin the application file before its application onto the optical disc.79. A copy protected optical disc carrying an application according toclaim 78, wherein the application file has been applied to the opticaldisc by a mastering process utilizing an encoder with “look ahead”capabilities.
 80. A copy protected optical disc carrying an applicationaccording to claim 78, wherein the application file has been applied tothe optical disc by a mastering process utilizing an encoder controllinga laser beam recorder.
 81. A storage device for use in a process ofmastering optical discs, comprising: an application file to be carriedon the optical discs and carried in the storage device; information andcontrol data for an application incorporated in the application files;and wherein DSV data patterns are incorporated in the application filebefore its application onto the optical disc.
 82. A storage device foruse in a process of mastering optical discs according to claim 81,wherein the DSV data patterns are located in the application file in amanner to ensure that they will be accessed by a player or a reader ofan optical disc carrying the application file.
 83. A storage device foruse in a process for mastering optical discs according to claim 81,wherein the DSV data patterns are chosen to cause DSV problems foroptical disc writers.
 84. A storage device according to claim 81,wherein the DSV data patterns are chosen to ensure that the DSV has asignificant absolute value.
 85. A storage device according to claim 81,wherein the DSV data patterns are repeated patterns of values.
 86. Astorage device according to claim 81, wherein the size of the DSV datapatterns is a predetermined amount.
 87. A storage device according toclaim 81, wherein the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSVwhich has a rapid rate of change.
 88. A storage device according toclaim 81, wherein the DSV data patterns are arranged to produce a DSVwhich has a substantial low frequency component.